Shinsengumi! (5): "The One-Eyed Goro Got Taken Down?"
Serizawa Kamo blinked both eyes in disbelief.
"Yeah. Just like those ronin whose heads vanished into thin air..."
He glanced up at the northern sky, visibly flustered.
Seven black stars, the eclipse of the moon. The dark sword star of the eight hundred earth fortress...
Even checking the divination again, fate remained unchanged.
But if it's following fate, that boy should be dead by now?
Serizawa fell deep into thought. Had he misread the will of heaven and earth? No. He, who had received the gods' revelation, couldn't make such a mistake. Then what? Had some existence beyond fate intervened?
Ridiculous.
A vein bulged at Serizawa's temple.
"...No helping it, then. I'll have to ask you."
A man sitting by the window lifted his head smoothly. Niimi Nishiki. He was Serizawa's right-hand man, but his swordsmanship surpassed even Serizawa's. He submitted only because of the bizarre divine power Serizawa had gained after facing death.
"Don't assassinate rashly this time. Just tail him and find the boy's hideout."
Starlight flickered in Niimi's pitch-black eyes. To most, it would seem romantic. But his cronies sensed an indescribable hideousness in that gaze.
"And on the day Hijikata's lot come swarming. That's when you raid the boy's hideout and burn it to the ground."
Niimi's face twisted oddly.
"What's that supposed to accomplish?"
"Why would the boy hole up in some backwater village on the outskirts? He's hiding something."
Serizawa's lips curled into a vile sneer.
"The boy will definitely come assault me alongside Hijikata's bunch. Then you slip into the empty hideout and destroy whatever he's precious about hiding."
Serizawa rambled on as if possessed. The story was riddled with logical leaps here and there. But Niimi nodded silently without objection. He followed Serizawa because of that power transcending logic.
"Oh, right. Is that 'item' ready?"
Serizawa suddenly asked one of his close subordinates.
"Yes. We've cleaned it spotless and set it up nicely."
"Good. Can't have fireworks missing when an honored guest arrives. Heh."
Serizawa clapped and burst into laughter.
"Can't wait to see the Shinsengumi's faces when they get their surprise gift."
The other cronies joined in with forced laughs. But some broke into cold sweats inwardly.
...He's really planning to use that right in the middle of Kyoto?
But the water was spilled. No one could stop Serizawa's madness once it started. Not even Serizawa himself.
As March ended and April dawned, the Shinsengumi assembled before the brothel under Hijikata Toshizo's lead. They hid in the darkness, conducting final checks.
"1st Unit Captain Okita Soji. 2nd Unit Nagakura Shinpachi. 3rd Unit Saito Hajime."
"Yes, Vice-Chief."
"Surround on three sides excluding the river direction and prepare to infiltrate. Then, assault vanguard Todo Heisuke."
"Yes."
"You'll lead with Harada Sanosuke. But Harada specializes in spearwork, so don't enter indoors. Keep control of the outdoors and cut down any fleeing enemies."
"Understood."
"Finally, Izuki Ishihara. You'll enter from the rear with me. Stick by my side guarding until we find Serizawa, then handle him alone."
Izuki nodded.
"Alright. All units, disperse."
Hijikata raised his hand, and the shadows scattered in perfect order.
Meanwhile, Izuki and Hijikata waited as planned.
"Have you ever fought indoors, in tight spaces?"
"Um, no. Not outside of dojo matches..."
Hijikata kept his eyes forward.
"The two most dangerous situations in indoor combat: first, turning a corridor corner. Second, entering a room."
Izuki imagined it as he listened.
"Spot the common point?"
"...Limited visibility, possible ambushes."
"Correct. So minimize body exposure in those spots."
Hijikata raised his sword hilt upward, pressing it tight to his body.
"If you don't conceal it like this, when turning a corner or entering a room, the enemy spots the protruding blade first. Don't duck in headfirst, or push in foot-first—exposing specific parts. Always thrust your whole body in at once."
Izuki listened intently.
"Indoors are cramped with obstacles, hard to swing a katana. If it catches or becomes unusable, immediately draw your wakizashi."
Samurai carried daisho—a pair of long katana and short wakizashi—for exactly that: long sword for open fights, short for close quarters.
"Got it?"
"Yes, I'll keep it in mind."
Hijikata stared into the boy's calm eyes. Too clear and sharp for someone facing a life-or-death battle.
...This boy's no ordinary one either.
Just then, a booming kiai echoed from the brothel.
"Haaah!! I am Harada Sanosuke of the Hozoin Ryu spear style!!"
A massive man stood firm in the center of the grand garden, whirling his spear shaft.
"Come at me all at once! This spear tip will judge every last one of you!!"
One startled swordsman drew his blade in panic—but regretted it instantly. A blink later, he dangled skewered on the spear tip like meat on a spit.
With the spear master's shout as signal, unit captains vaulted the walls. They beheaded the dazzled foes from behind and surged into the building.
"Wh-who the hell are you?!"
"Enemy attack! Enem—gurk!"
Shadows flickered across white paper screens, followed by sprays of red blood.
Seeing that, Hijikata finally rose. He dashed toward the brothel like the wind, Izuki following.
I wish you luck.
Passing the outdoor garden, Todo—back-to-back with Harada—gave a subtle glance. Izuki nodded back and plunged indoors.
It was pandemonium. Courtesans screamed. With every lantern-lit sword shadow, wrists and heads flew through the air.
As Hijikata and Izuki rounded a corridor corner, a blade tip jutted from the left. Someone charging with sword drawn. Then the foot emerged.
Hijikata's blade pierced the instep. The screaming man lost balance and pitched forward—throat perfectly aligned for Hijikata's single clean slice. The head rolled at their feet.
But Hijikata scanned without pause.
Something's off.
He furrowed his brow. Too quiet. Specifically, Serizawa's elites were too quiet.
All we've cut down so far are grunts.
He glanced at the rolling head.
Where are the five Shindo Munen-ryu masters...?
Then Harada Sanosuke's bellow boomed from the garden.
"The elites are leading ronin reinforcements!!"
Tch. Hijikata kicked open the sliding door. Beyond lay the garden, encircled by flickering torches in the dark.
"We've been surrounded instead."
Somehow Serizawa's side had gotten wind of the plan.
"Ishihara. Speed up the Serizawa search."
This op's core was Izuki eliminating Serizawa. Sure, failing to mop up remnants would be trouble later. But with Serizawa gone, they could manage.
"No need to retreat?"
Izuki asked worriedly.
"My comrades aren't that weak."
Hijikata replied flatly.
They swiftly cleared the first floor and ascended. Soon, they reached the largest second-floor room. Izuki and Hijikata pressed to left and right of the door.
Enter on signal.
Hijikata raised a fist.
One, two.
Bam! They kicked in and swept left-right. Empty—except dead center.
"Mm. Nearly dozed off waiting."
Serizawa's eyes were indeed drowsy.
"Your iai's slow, and your regular draw's slow too."
Puhaha! Serizawa roared with laughter.
The two exchanged quick glances.
"Good luck."
Tap. Hijikata turned, patted Izuki's shoulder, and strode out to block the hall.
"There! Second floor!"
"They've breached Serizawa-sama's room!"
Footsteps thundered up the stairs—but turned to screams instants later. Swords danced in the corridor, blood spraying.
...Good luck.
Izuki whispered. Serizawa rose ponderously, glancing boredly.
"You're quite the oddity. What's the reason for going this far?"
Serizawa fanned himself with his war fan.
"You barely escaped with your life—why crawl back to court death?"
Izuki gripped his sword two-handed, refining his energy, assuming stance.
"To protect the weak."
The same unshaken answer as before.
Serizawa sighed deeply—then eyes widened in realization.
"Protect the weak... protect what's precious... Ahh. So that's it."
Chilling starlight gleamed in Serizawa's black eyes.
"You've got someone precious hidden at your mountainside lair, don't you?"
Izuki's shoulders twitched faintly.
"I see. That explains your eccentric behavior."
Serizawa laughed in utter delight.
"Ahh, but what a pity. That precious one of yours is about to lose their life."
Serizawa feigned a mournful face. His shifting grin-to-grimace was grotesque.
"Sent an assassin to your hideout. By now, your dear one's probably burning alive—or being defiled by my man."
Serizawa smacked his lips, imagining it.
"Niimi Nishiki's as masterful at live torture as his swordplay. Ahh, maybe he'll lop off limbs and roast them..."
"Just one?"
Serizawa shut his joyful mouth.
"Niimi Nishiki. You sent just that one to the hideout?"
"Yes. Don't underestimate a single man. Niimi's swordsmanship outshines even mine..."
"Then it's fine."
Izuki exhaled in relief. Then smiled brighter than ever.
"I'll give you a moment. Shall we pray for Niimi Nishiki's soul together?"
"Fgyaaaah!! U, uwaaaah!! Aaaah!!!"
Niimi Nishiki writhed on the ground. His right arm was gone. His whole body burned. The savory smell of roasting meat wafted through the mountainside.
"Ugh... uaaah... P-plea... mercy..."
Niimi crawled, foaming blood, toward Si-ho's feet.
"E-eek...? W-wait a sec..."
Si-ho floundered, glancing around. Was there water nearby? She hadn't washed, so who knew.
"S-sorry... Y-you'll have to burn up like that, I guess..."
Si-ho was still baffled by this mess.
Deep night, eyes shut in sleep. Then acrid smoke—house ablaze. Panicked dash outside, but door barricaded from without. Desperate iai through the blocked door. Wind and flames fused into a blast.
Boom—the front half exploded. Coughing her way out, she found this armless, burning ronin wriggling like a maggot.
"K-kill me. Or... juuust feed me..."
His jaw and tongue melted stuck; he begged desperately. Mercy, death—what did he want?
"S-sorry... I only know iai..."
If she knew normal swordplay, she'd at least decapitate him. Pitifully, despair filled his heat-warped eyes.
"Y-you... iaido... master... only... iai...? Makes... no..."
With those words, Niimi cooked well-done and died.
Si-ho shuddered at the gruesome, tenacious end.
Wh-what now...?
Turning, her still-blazing house.
Niimi probably planned to trap her inside for a roast. Peered into the oven—boom, accident, his fate.
Then... this place isn't safe anymore...
Si-ho gazed sadly at the burning house.
That boy sweated so hard to build it for me.
Guilt drooped her shoulders. Not her fire, but her iai obliterated it worse than the original ruin.
...Wait.
Where was that boy? Si-ho looked around. Just her and the spit-roast Niimi on the mountainside.
...Hmm. Guess I'll head to the city...
Ronin came this far—danger zone. House gone, can't camp here. Find the boy, an inn for the night...
Only way's Kyoto proper.
Si-ho drew her sword from Niimi's fiery corpse. Chilly April dawn. Warmth from his body lingered at her waist.